Trepidatious traveller

Thanks for dropping by the Trepidatious Travellerblog which is set out in three sections –

Camino blogs
Click on ‘My Caminos’ in the menu bar at the top of the page for a drop down list of all seven camino routes, each with a daily report from along the way. Or click on the links given below.

My next (8th) route will be along the Camino Olvidado (forgotten route) from Bilbao to Ponferrada and then onto the Camino Invierno (winter route) from Ponferrada to Santiago de Compostela. I may have time to walk on to Finisterre and Muxia. It is planned to set off at the end of April 2020 and hopefully we will not encounter any snow at the high altitudes.

Check out previous caminos below…

Camino Frances for daily reports from the Camino de Santiago (Frances route), 500+ miles across northern Spain from the Pyrenees through Santiago de Compostela to Finisterre – which I walked with my daughter in April/May 2013

In 2014 I walked the Camino Portuguese. I set off from Lisbon in May and travelled north through Portugal, across the Spanish border and on to Santiago de Compostela (670 km’s). The daily posts are full of photos and useful information for future pilgrims.

2015 saw me walking the Camino Mozárabe from Málaga. This little-walked camino is very lonely for the first 500 km and I was lucky to find a walking partner for company. We saw only three other pilgrims during eighteen days of walking. At Mérida the Mozárabe meets the Via de la Plata and there are many pilgrims from this point on. I took the Sanabrés variant of the VdlP and after reaching Santiago I walked on to Finisterre. 52 days walking and 1,365 kms. I provide a lot of information in these posts that I hope will be useful to future pilgrims taking this route.

In spring 2016 I set off on the Camino del Norte . I commenced walking from Irun on the French border, and travelled west along the north coast of Spain as far as Ribadeo, at which point this camino drops down inland towards Santiago and joins with the Camino Frances for the last 40 kms. Instead, I continued to walk along the coast and followed the Ruta do Mar as far as Ferrol. This is a developing route and does not have the signage and accommodation infrastructure of the well known pilgrim ways. On reaching Ferrol I continued along the Camino Ingles into Santiago de Compostela. Total distance 970 km over 35 days.

And my fifth camino was a combination of four different pilgrim routes – Camino de Madrid, Camino San Salvador, Camino Primitivo and the Camino Fisterra. Commencing the last week of April 2017, you can follow my progress here

In 2018 commencing mid April I walked the Camino Mozárabe/Torres . Starting in Almería in southern Spain I walked the Mozárabe to Salamanca (having taken a detour along the variante Trujillo). Then I hopped onto the Camino Torres which crosses into Portugal to Ponte de Lima, where I jumped on a bus to Viana de Castelo on the Portuguese coastal route and headed up to Santiago de Compostela via the Variante Espiritual, covering approximately 1,500 km and taking 56 walking days.

My route in 2019 was the Camino de la Lana (the Wool Route) which commences in Alicante and heads north to Burgos. I had planned to continue on the second half of the Camino Olvidado and then the Camino Invierno. Sadly the best laid plans did not come to fruition when I suffered an injury a few stages short of Burgos and had to return home.

Click A view of life to read about the joys and quirks of living in an Andalucian mountain village. I lived in Spain for some years but have now returned to the UK.

Click on Asia
to read about my adventures with Ella (my eldest daughter) in Bangkok, Sri Lanka and India in July 2012 (a work in progress!)

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Thanks Gaye, yes typo – thanks for pointing it out. Mid April is a good time to walk, but will be busy over Easter – apparently a lot of spanish walk at that time. I’m sure you will have an amazing experience. Buen camino!

Thank you for sharing your Camino experience with us! I walked the Norte/Primitivo last summer and am hoping to walk part of the Portugues from Porto to Santiago this summer. Have you found a good source for information on this camino? Any information you can share is much appreciated! Buen Camino! Shari

Maggie,
Just lost my posting to your blog, blast…
Anyhow, THANK GODDNESS Your posts made it on-line. I read and enjoyed everyone of them.
Congrats to You and Ella for making it ALL THE WAY !! Your Parents, I’m sure are Proud of you !
Buen Camino! or should it be Buen CaminoS! to you !!
Cam

Thanks Cam, for your very kind comment. I am now gearing up for my second camino on the Portuguese route, from Lisbon, walking solo this time, although I have just learned that Ella might join me for a portion of the route, which is a lovely surprise. Are you planning a camino or have you already walked one?

Hi Retha, thanks for your comment. I have just returned from a lovely walk in the spanish sunshine in the mountains. I shall have to start training more seriously now though, as I needed a snooze after just 13km – must do better!

I should reach Porto by mid-May and I may be joined by my daughter for this stage of the camino, which will be lovely.
Buen camino!

I’ll be in Porto by mid May. I start in Lisbon on May 6. I would like to start the day I arrive and need a hostel close to Lisbon for the first night. I want to get away from the asphalt. Hope to see you and your daughter. I’ll have a Canadian flag on my green back back.

Hi Pauline, my daughter has decided that she won’t be able to take the time to meet me in Porto, so it will be all the way solo. It would be great if we bumped into eachother – the timescale should be about right. Maybe we should keep in touch!

Hi Aileen, I know that feeling well (nervous and excited)! I found the most important thing about hiking pants is the placement of the pockets. I found the most useful pockets to be on the side of the leg, between knee and thigh. They are easy and comfortable to reach, and I kept things like tissues (I had a constant runny nose all through my camino), sunglasses, rubber tips for my walking poles, etc. With no experience last year, I was really lucky to buy one pair with this placement, but the other pair with just pockets below the waist did not get worn very much.

This year I have purchased two new pairs, which are very lightweight (282g and 254g) and quick drying, and both have the requisite side pockets. The make is ‘Ex-Officio’ and I was lucky enough to buy them in an outlet store for £29 each (I think the original price was around £60). I also bought one of their vented shirts for something like £12. It is all very well made. I found them in a store called ‘Orvis’ which also sells Barbour gear – the first pair in store (they only had one pair) and the second over the telephone. The make seems more readily available in the USA.

Hi Maggie,
I enjoyed reading your Camino blog, day after day. My girlfriend and I will start from Porto on April 22nd. Do you recommend to bring a lot of warm clothes? You mentioned quite often that mornings were cold and windy.

Thanks again for conveying your experiences and some good laughs. Your pictures are great too.

Hi Tatiana, thanks for your comment. There were definitely some cold days and I was glad to have some gloves, and warm base layers that can double as sleep wear on cold nights. It is entirely ‘luck of the draw’ with the weather at this time of year, but I would say it is fairly certain that you will encounter some rain as you travel north. Buen camino!

Awesome! I’ve always wanted to go on the Camino de Santiago. Did you go on it for religious reasons, if I may ask?
Aul
By the way, feel free to check out my blog at http://montairyus23.wordpress.com/
I’m writing a novel and want to get the word out. Thanks!

Hi, Maggie, Love your blog, love that you travel! This is the annual Frontier Days celebration in Cheyenne, maybe one year you can visit–http://www.cfdrodeo.com/.Other than being a local, I have no other connection to the event, but it is a fun time for locals and visitors. Hope your summer is going well. Leona

Hi Leona, thanks for your kind words. The rodeo looks great fun. I love events where so many locals get involved, which is why I love the attitude of the spanish down here in Andalucia – everyone joins in the fun – all ages, all walks of life. Right now it’s ‘feria’ season, all the local villages take it in turns to host a huge party for the weekend, where the fun starts late at night and continues until 7am.

And then on 15 August each year the village of Cómpeta holds its annual ‘noche del vino’ – night of the wine – to celebrate the grape harvest. Read about it in my post http://wp.me/p3azEo-pd

Got your blog in a round about manner, researching packing, etc. My two friends and I are planning to do the Camino de Santiago, starting in Roncesvalles in Mid September, 2015. So, we are researching, purchasing and training! I loved your post Camino thoughts about your gear! I believe yours is definitely the most creative assessment I have yet read! Also, interested about your riding! I currently have an Andalusion, and many years ago spent several days at the Escuela de Alcainca in Portugal, riding the Andalusian Stallions! What an Awesome experience, which left me with an interest to someday visit Spain…….and suddenly the Camino experience was presented by a friend! Round about way of saying I really enjoy your postings, and will now begin reading your blog! Best Wishes with your current travels!

Hi Karen, and thanks for your lovely comment. You should look at visiting my area for a riding holiday. There are two stables here in Cómpeta. One is my neighbour ‘Caballos del Mosquîn’ and the other one is run by my farrier’s family ‘Los Oliveros’ which offers a very comfortable and friendly stay.

Maggie – I have read and reread your travels on the Camino France’s over the past year. I especially enjoyed the pictures along the way and your creative ways of modifying your clothing and gear to fit your needs (such as creating a rain cape for your backpack and removable sleeves). I,too, sew and modify anything that doesn’t fit. Anyway, my sister an I will finally start our Camino France’s I the middle of April 2015. Thank you for writing your blog.

Hi Leslie, many thanks for your comment and I am glad you have found the blog useful. Mid April is a great time to walk, not too busy and not too hot (but possibly cold and wet which I would prefer to high temperatures).
Good to hear from a fellow adapter. I would love to know if you make any adjustments to your gear. Do keep in touch and buen camino to you and your sister.

Hello Gamino. I visited Sri Lanka in 2012 with my daughter. I absolutely loved the experience. At the moment there is a Sri Lankan advertising campaign on UK tv and whenever it comes on I have to stop whatever I am doing and enjoy the scenery and the fond memories. I found the Sri Lankan people very kind and your country is beautiful. I would love to visit again. Thanks for visiting my blog.

Hi Maggie, A big ‘thank you’ for sharing all your walking experiences. I too am a solo female walker (from Tasmania, Australia) &, like you, a CRO (Camino Repeat Offender). I did the Camino Frances in 2012 & am heading off on the Caminho Portugues (Lisbon to Santiago then on to Finisterre) in less than 8 weeks time…yikes! The Mozarabe & Via de la Plata are also on my list The additional information you share is very helpful…guidebooks only go so far & it is the ‘little things’ we all want & need to know. I trusted your analysis & sourced the same sleeping bag you used. I have one gear question if I may… the vest with zip-off sleeves…where did you find that? I’ve searched the web (admittedly only Aussie sites) & have only managed to find a hi-viz workwear type that looks quite bulky. Good luck with the preparation for your next challenge…this long distance walking thing really does get in your blood doesn’t it! Best wishes.

Hi Kaz, thanks so much for your comment. I’m glad you have found the blog useful and I hope you are happy with your sleeping bag. The zip off jacket was sourced from a golf retailer. I have just checked the website and there is only one left like mine, size 16. I’ve just checked mine and it is size large so probably is a 16. Before I purchased I wanted more info about the product and phoned the contact number. The woman that I spoke to couldn’t have more helpful, she even tried it on for me so that she could give advice on the fit. I have worn it a lot both on camino and walking at home. They happily posted out to me in spain (and even included a free gift). There is a new version on the website now, so take a look. And if you are unsure, give them a ring and hopefully they will be equally helpful to you.https://www.lovegolfclothes.co.uk/products/ladies-golf-jackets
Bom caminho. Let me know how you enjoy the CP.

Thanks Maggie…I have now found one in the Southern Hemisphere (for all your Antipodean readers, the company is Ridgeline & the jacket model is Montana).
In the past I have used legwarmers on either my arms or legs…easily put on & taken off, lightweight & cheap to buy. Isn’t it wonderful all the little gems of experience we pick up on the way? Once again thanks for sharing. I admire you putting yourself ‘out there’….writing in a public forum leaves you open to the full spectrum of responses. Enjoy the preparation & anticipation of your next adventure..the Camino Mozarabe. We will all look forward to reading about it! Most of all I’m really glad you have to put rest your earlier fears of walking solo…we are strong women & we can do anything! Take care & happy trails.

I have followed your writing since you were on the Camino Portugues last year and enjoyed what you wrote and the photos. You mentioned the distances being different from different GPS devices. Did you receive enough comments about GPS and GPS-A to clarify the different distances? Also you asked, in an earlier post, about photography lessons – . Photography is the easiest art form to start (just get a camera, point it and press a button) and the hardest to become really proficient. – So why not? This isn’t a criticism of your photos or your ability or ‘eye’, please keep taking and posting them.

I did pose a question about GPS on a pilgrim forum and got some useful replies, but none that solved my problem. I have not heard of GPS -A. I shall have to google it. Any enlightenment you can provide will be gratefully received. Thanks for your comments about photos – I will probably just keep doing what I have been doing – seeing something interesting, pointing and shooting!

Sorry for the late reply, I was reading your blogs elsewhere and didn’t see your question.
Not being a engineer this maybe somewhat off base, but I think this is pretty close.

GPS takes the signal from satellites. GPS-A uses the signals from cell towers to triangulate and provide a location. Most devices, if they can, will combine the two and provide location information back to who ever wants it (you, Google, other apps etc) IF you have Cellular service turned on. You have to have 3G or a 4G receiver in your phone turned on to use GPS-A.

My Nokia phone is GPS only (the data service is turned off – just using voice and text).

My Nexus 7-2013 tablet has both a GPS receiver and LTE 4G. Sometimes I use the Nexus with GPS only and other times with the LTE 4G turned on thereby giving me GPS-A.

NONE of distances using the devices match (Nokia phone, Nexus with cellular and Nexus without cellular) and the difference can be up to 10%. All three mediums will show an accurate map – but will track differences in distance.

Regarding photography, Lynda.com has some nice lessons. It might be worth it for a month. I might be able to help if you want to give it a try.

A request – when you are out photographing, would you occasionally include an interesting face. Maybe an older person with a wise look, or a child, a confident bartender, a hospitaleo (sp) from an auberge, anyone!. Just a request, not a criticism!

Thank you so much for your detailed comments and I apologise for the very long delay in responding. I really appreciate the effort you have taken to try to explain GPS and I am sure that a lot of people will find it helpful.
And as to your comment about my photos, I find I have to agree with you. It has taken me a long time to reach this conclusion, but having people in photos does give some perspective. I am always tempted to wait for anyone walking through my chosen shot to get out of sight, but I will start to resist that inclination. I will take a look at Lynda.com. Once again, thank you.

To make this GPS issue clearer- I just got an IPAD Air and the GPS listing is for Assisted GPS and GLONASS. Checking on GLONASS, Google says it is the Russian GPS system.

So that makes three different systems –
GPS-A (or A-GPS) which triangulates from cell towers
GPS from the US government
and GLONASS from Russia.

Android uses GPS and/or GPS-A
Apple uses GLONASS and/or GPS-A

I assume my Nokia C6-00 uses GPS due to its age. There is no active GPS-A on this device since I turn off the Cellular data function.

With three systems, it is no wonder the distances don’t match.

To be even more complex, the GPS only function on the Nexus and Nokia give different distances.

But, I suppose if one system is used consistently, it should be ok for comparison.

My GPS-A is turned off to prevent battery drain, data usage, and location tracking. It can always be turned on if necessary. Both the Android Nexus 7 and the Nokia work fine without GPS-A. Don’t know about Apple yet.

Hello Gerry Crroll – are you the same that I walked with on the camino Portuguese this year – lost you after Tui and asked everyone along the way about you but no one could help. Linty and I talked a lot about you and enjoyed our short time together.
Are you from Irieland – our Gerry was from Dublin
In friendship
Marilyn van Graan – South Africa

This is the first time I would walk the camino (only the last 130km) ….if I can make up my mind. At this moment the only option is to do that in mid 15 January ,as I would then join up with my brother who is doing the whole route. What worries me the most is the weather at that time.
How severe is the weather at that time in Spain. And what can one expect regarding accommodation.
Could you let me know as I have to make a decision very fast
Marina Smit..I am 58 and from South Africa.

Hello Maria. I live in the south of Spain and January here can be glorious during the day, although cold st night. There can also be tremendous winds and heavy rain – it is impossible to predict. I guess there is a greater chance of rain in Galicia. Will you be staying in private hotels or albergues? If you stay in private accommodation then at least you are likely to have a warm room and be able to get your washing done. I think as long as you can be sure of a warm welcome st the end of the day, walking through possibly difficult conditions is more bearable. Personally, I wouldn’t want to walk in the colder months because I always stay in albergues which might not be very comfortable. A difficult decision for you, but you will only be walking for around a week, and you could always skip s day or take a bus to the next stage if the weather is really bad. Let me know what you decide. Buen Camino!

Hi Thanks for the reply. I appreciate your comments. Could one expect snow storms etc up in the north. I ha d a look at the 30 year avg for that area… and they just reported a heavy rainfall and low temp’s. Sorry for asking so much.
Have a nice day.. (lekker dag!). Marina

I know that there has been a lot of snow last week at the eastern end of the Camino. Not sure about the rest of the route. It really is impossible to predict but could range from freezing storms to beautiful sunny blue skies. You just have to take a chance. I welcome your questions, but cannot answer them with any authority.

I have been following your Camino de Norte blog and really enjoy your writing. I am a few days behind but look forward to each post. I plan to walk the camino next year & am making a list of your many tips. Thanks for sharing. Buen Camino!

Hi Maggie, Just found your blog after reading your post on Bruno’s blog. I’ve done caminos solo and lately with my husband. We are going to be hospitaleros at El Burgo Ranero the last half of October 2016. I love reading Camino blogs and look forward to reading yours. We will probably walk in November after our service — not sure yet just where. I have a blog, too, Caminobleu.blobspot.com, but haven’t done very well at keeping it up-to-date. Linnea

Well what do you know. I think I have been trying to contact on the reader only site!!!
You know I am a big fan. You live and learn even at my age. Hope the resting and catching up with family and friends is not too strenuous. Buen Camino

Hi, Magwood — I tried to send a comment earlier, but I do not think that you received it. I have enjoyed reading your Camino blogs, and they inspired me to walk a portion of the Camino Frances last year. I will be returning to do another portion this year. I love your pack rain cover/shoulder poncho design, and I would like to try to make one for myself. Can you provide any more detailed information about how you designed and made it, so that I have some instructions to follow?
Thanks for all of the helpful information that you have provided on your website!
Gail A.

Hi Gail, sorry for the delayed response. I have been busy with my daughter’s wedding last weekend and babysitting whilst they are away on their honeymoon. I have made the post I wrote some time ago public and you can see it here.

I stumbled upon your Mozarabe Camino video and was very impressed by the beautiful photography, I loved all the pictures, bur especially the flower pictures. What kind of camera did you use? I walked the Via de la Plata/Sanabres from Seville in April-May, 2016. I bumped into George on and off all the way to Santiago. He started several days before I did in Cadiz. A group of us who walked on and off together from the start, including George, celebrated by having a post Camino supper on 20 May in Santiago. I’ll be Walking the Mozarabe route starting in April 2017. Thanks for the Beautiful video and all the work it took to make it. ( I made a You Tube video called “Spring wildflowers on the Camino de Santiago de Compostela, 2015”, so I know how much work it is to put something together.)

Hola David, and thanks for posting this message. George provided me with great company for the first section of the Mozarabe in 2015, and we met in Santiago at the end of our respective caminos for supper. We also met up this year after George returned from his trip to Finisterre and I completed my adventure on the Norte. I shall take a look at your video. My camera in 2015 was the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LF1, but unfortunately it was dropped once too often and has been replaced with the Lumix TZ60.
I am considering walking the Mozarabe route from Almeria in 2018, but next year am planning the Camino de Madrid, San Salvador and Primitivo.
Buen camino!
Edit: I have now watched your video – I see we have a lot in common! I like the format. I produced my first two videos in order to give a presentation to a garden club I belong to, and they were very flower oriented. But I have come to realise that if I want to attract a wider audience it is necessary to scale back on the flowers and include a wider selection of material including people and places. Thanks for sharing.

I hope 2017 brings all the best to you….and a great trip for sure! 🙂
I found some english brochures about the Caminos Madrid and Salvador…and already lovin it!
Only about 500 People a year on the Madrid? Great!!!!!!!! Looking forward!

When Google and Apple recently colluded to stop travelers from using Blogger on iPhone or iPad, I remembered your blogs on WordPress. I always liked the look of your blogs so I tried to learn how to use WordPress a few years ago. I never got the hang of it but using your blogs again as a model – and the lack of any real alternative that I could find – I eventually figured it out. Thanks for the silent inspiration! After last year’s Norte / Primitivo and Coast to Coast walk across England, we are looking forward to April’s Chemin d’Arles. Keep walking and Merry Christmas!

Hi Michael. Thanks for the comment, and glad for any help I was able to provide, however silent. I do think a lot of blogs are let down by being so user-unfriendly, so I tried to develop mine to be how I would like to find others. As you are walking through France, so I shall be setting off from Almería with various forum members. How about a link to your blog? Would love to follow you.
Buen camino, Maggie

Hi Maggie, I’ve set up the blog and done some practice posts here: https://memismsblogs.wordpress.com/. Now I just have to wait to taking off for France. Enjoy your Camino. Are you going all the way to Santiago?

Thanks for the link – I will take a look. Yes, I hope to get to Santiago and even Finisterre (coast to coast), but this will be my longest camino by far, so am planning not to get stressed about whether or not I finish.

Hi
I have bought one of the Raidlight drink bottles from France online but can not see how I can attach it to my strap. My strap does not unthread to allow it to slide through the 3 back slots on the holder Wondering how you attached it please Maggie

Hi Cathy. That is a bit of a problem, but not insurmountable if you are at all practical (or know someone who is handy with a needle and thread). I wouldn’t worry about all three slots, just one or two. If I had your problem, I would…
1) buy some strong velcro, ideally the width of the slot webbing.
2) choose which slot you will use (middle or top)
3) cut through the middle of your chosen slot webbing and attach the velcro to each side, being sure to turn under a small hem on the webbing or it will fray. You will lay one side of the velcro over the top of one half of the webbing, and the other side of the velcro will extend from the other half of the webbing. Make sure the hooks of the velcro are not facing your body or you may find that they will snag at your teeshirt and wear a hole.
4) You will then be able to open and close the slot around your pack strap
I hope this makes sense (it does to me, but I know what I am talking about!)

Please note that I also use a carabiner to support the weight of the water carrier. I have several horizontal loops higher up my pack strap and the carabiner attaches to this and to the elastic loop at the top of the carrier. The slots alone won’t keep it in place. I can’t attach a photo here, but will send you an email with a picture that might help. I feel a bit responsible to get your issue sorted out as you probably bought the system on my recommendation.
Good luck
Maggie

I did manage to undo the strap and thread the bottle holder through- I then put the elastic band around the rim of the bottle neck to hold it in place but would still like to see your use of the carbinder
Cheers
Cathy

Good morning, I am happy to introduce our Association, Amici della Via Postumia, as the creator of the path and president I will work to improve the route for pilgrims, signage, housing, and all the information you find on our site. La Via Postumia, Italian route to Santiago de Compostela is ready, come and follow the yellow arrows and discover 930 km of beautiful Italy, 9 UNESCO sites, 6 regions, delicious Italian food. We are waiting for you

Dear Mag,
I have been trying Wikiloc before I head to do a Camino Del Norte commencing AUg 24. How did you paste the map and altitude graph on your Facebook/blog on your recent Camino?
I have tried to post a recent walk but it links to another page which requires the viewer to download Wikiloc. I also note in reading your current blog that the trail map and altidude profile is missing. Nay reason?
JD

Hola JD. Sorry for the delay in responding to your question. In order to use the wikiloc graphics in my blog, I simply screenshot the relevant section on my iPhone and then edit the shot to show the specific image that I want and then I airdrop this image to my iPad where I write my blog. I don’t normally include shots of the trail map because it doesn’t really mean much to the viewer when there are two points and a wiggly line with no place names. But I thought it might be more relevant on the Norte because for the most part the routes showed the coastline and so it was easier for the viewer to work out where I was. It is always my intention to go back and update each post with a link to the actual wikiloc route, but sadly I have failed miserably in this endeavour.
I hope that makes sense, but if not let me know and I will be happy to help.
Buen Camino for August – not long now!

I did get my credencial in Málaga. There is an association of amigos, but they only open their office on Tuesday evenings. Not very convenient for most pilgrims! I would suggest getting one from Ivar’s forum or from your local association.

I’ve been following your blog with interest and has helped me in the writing my novel.

My novel, The Catching of the Camino Wind was published on the 31 July. It is available on Amazon.
I wrote this after completing my 800kl Camino Frances walk from St-Jean-Pied-de-Port in France to Santiago on the west coast of Spain. Many who walk it write an article or blog about but I decided to make novel of it instead.
Here is the blurb for the novel:
Avril is walking the Camino Francés in the hope of ridding herself of an inner demon that has cursed her young life when she meets Giovanni who has suffered a personal tragedy. He is in a dark place and needs rescuing. He had a dream directing him to walk the Camino. He undertakes it, but is an awkward and reluctant pilgrim. Riku, a Japanese zoologist, has his normally calm and relaxed nature shaken when he meets Ella; a Bulgarian Environmentalist with a carefree and cheeky disposition – Zeeta, a Parisian poet is out to discover the secrets of the universe but finds the philosophy of a Greek prison officer more appealing. Geordie is out to test his strength and mental agility to mark his seventieth birthday and discovers more about himself on the Camino that he had in his entire life. What do these pilgrims and others walking the Camino Francés have in common? What is it that binds them together, making them reveal secrets to each other they have never reveal to their closest friends or family? Could it be love or is it just the magical charm of the Camino effect? Be humoured, shocked and surprised by this unusual love story that blossomed on the road to Santiago.

Hi James. Very sorry for the long delay in responding. Wow, a book! Congratulations. You seem to have introduced a lot of characters – they must have been difficult to keep track of. I’m limited to writing about reality – I don’t have the imagination for fiction. I hope the book is a great success.

HI Maggie, It looks like you have not walked the Via de la Plata… yet. Have you thought about that one? Melanie & I may need to change our plans for an April Via Francigena del Sud so we are scrambling for a nice month or so on a Spanish route. The VdlP looked like it would fit the bill but as always, I first check your blog to see what you thought of the route. You usually are there the year before us! Any thoughts? Best regards, ~Michael

Hi Michael. Great to hear from you. I hope you’re keeping well. I haven’t walked the VdlP from Seville, but in 2015 I walked the Mozárabe from Málaga which joins the VdlP at Mérida. I really enjoyed this camino, taking the Sanábres option at Granja de Moreruela. In 2018 I walked the alternative Mozárabe route from Almería and took a different variant that brought me onto the VdlP a bit further up at Aldeanueva del Camino and then I swapped to the Camino Torres at Salamanca. You will pass through some beautiful historic cities on the VdlP. I am planning to walk the Olvidado and Invierno this year, commencing end of April but am fully expecting that it might be wise to stay at home instead. Things are changing so quickly with the Coronavirus updates that it’s impossible to know what the situation will be in six weeks’ time. Luckily my only commitment thus far is a £15 airfare. I really feel for those travelling from further afield. Let me know what you decide. Buen camino!

Thanks so much for this Maggie. I think. I told Melanie your plans for this year while I eagerly started looking back at your blogs for the VdlP parts. It wasn’t long before Melanie asked why we weren’t walking the Olvidado instead. My obvious reply was that I never really heard about it before. So many trails, so little time. We are back to the drawing board and thinking about all the options. Actually, that’s a good thing. Thanks for the inspiration. Buen Camino!